Thanks to the growth of the Internet, America finds itself plagued by a noxious epidemic of ruthless scam artists. Where do they all come from? If you guessed 110 percent of them are spawned in Florida, you win the cigar. . . .

When a new digital scheme goes horribly awry— causing innocents to die and a young womaAll just another day in Serge Storms's sun-splashed paradise!

Thanks to the growth of the Internet, America finds itself plagued by a noxious epidemic of ruthless scam artists. Where do they all come from? If you guessed 110 percent of them are spawned in Florida, you win the cigar. . . .

When a new digital scheme goes horribly awry— causing innocents to die and a young woman to go missing—only one person can set things right: obsessive Florida trivia buff and reluctant serial killer Serge Storms.

Aided by his perpetually addled sidekick, Coleman, and latter-day noir private eye Mahoney, Serge launches a crusade to rid his beloved state of predators and save the girl.

But Serge's mission is hampered by one pesky little detail: he's being tracked by a hit man dis-patched from his murky past. And all bets are off when Serge learns the same assassin is responsible for killing the love of his life years ago. It's not long before the two begin tracking each other around Florida in a frenzied Möbius loop.

Community Reviews

I admit it. I'm trapped. Tim Dorsey must be one of the hardest working guys in the book business and he lives just up the street in Tampa. I met him many years ago at a book signing when his first work appeared and with a signed first edition of a book I enjoyed, naturally I had to get the second in the same fashion all the way through this one. But I would not have remained in the cycle if I did not enjoy his work. Since I often cover a lot of Florida while working and have an appreciation forI admit it. I'm trapped. Tim Dorsey must be one of the hardest working guys in the book business and he lives just up the street in Tampa. I met him many years ago at a book signing when his first work appeared and with a signed first edition of a book I enjoyed, naturally I had to get the second in the same fashion all the way through this one. But I would not have remained in the cycle if I did not enjoy his work. Since I often cover a lot of Florida while working and have an appreciation for the history of the state and the quirkiness in our oddball reputation, it is great to have serial killer Serge coming up with ingenious ways to do in those that would harm Florida and Floridians. Granted, the gratuitous mayhem and gore takes some getting used to and the characters are certainly off the wall but if you have a taste for the wacky, Serge and his perpetually high sidekick Coleman are worth a visit....more

The Serge Storms series is not one where you want to just jump in with the latest release. The series must be read in order and from the beginning. This one seemed a little forced. Serge is up to his normal antics and righting what wrongs he perceives. This one is advertised as Serge getting political, but this is in no way a major plot line. Personally I hate the Mahoney character once he stopped hunting Serge and they became friends. Coleman remains a laughable idiot and Serge's sidekick.

WhatThe Serge Storms series is not one where you want to just jump in with the latest release. The series must be read in order and from the beginning. This one seemed a little forced. Serge is up to his normal antics and righting what wrongs he perceives. This one is advertised as Serge getting political, but this is in no way a major plot line. Personally I hate the Mahoney character once he stopped hunting Serge and they became friends. Coleman remains a laughable idiot and Serge's sidekick.

What ever happened to the cops that were hunting Serge? Where were City and Country? Even Lenny was forgotten in this iteration. However, Johnny Vegas is present a few times. Serge needs a new Femme Fatale like Sharon was.

Also in a few of the previous books it was mentioned how Serge is getting older and is now in his forties. This was never mentioned. I assume to make Serge ageless so the series can continue without him reaching middle age and making it unbelievable. ...more

Once again, Serge Storms and his intoxicated pal Coleman ride around Florida in a not-quite-vintage muscle car creatively extermination evildoers. In this case it is scam artists. There are no surprises in this book. Tim Dorsey writes these books on cruise control and what plot there is never changes from book to book.

But there is a lot to like in this series. Dorsey is a good writer and the book never bogs down. His commentary on current events and society, usually delivered by Serge, is wittyOnce again, Serge Storms and his intoxicated pal Coleman ride around Florida in a not-quite-vintage muscle car creatively extermination evildoers. In this case it is scam artists. There are no surprises in this book. Tim Dorsey writes these books on cruise control and what plot there is never changes from book to book.

But there is a lot to like in this series. Dorsey is a good writer and the book never bogs down. His commentary on current events and society, usually delivered by Serge, is witty and on target. There are many laugh out loud moments, rivaling Hiaasen and Barry.

If you're looking for gravitas in a book don't look here. If James Lee Burke was Beethoven, Dorsey would be The Archies. But if you are looking for the perfect beach read, Serge's merry murders will keep you entertained. I keep buying these books for that reason alone. ...more

5* omg, this is hilarious!!! Crazy and silly.Still reading ... I actually have to stop listening so I can recover my breath and go on with my chores or whatever. I have not laughed this hard at a novel since a friend and I started reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Also, the performance of this particular audiobook is absolutely one of the best. I'd probably enjoy reading it too, but these reader-performers are great.It's full of scathing commentary on things in Florida, and Canada5* omg, this is hilarious!!! Crazy and silly.Still reading ... I actually have to stop listening so I can recover my breath and go on with my chores or whatever. I have not laughed this hard at a novel since a friend and I started reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Also, the performance of this particular audiobook is absolutely one of the best. I'd probably enjoy reading it too, but these reader-performers are great.It's full of scathing commentary on things in Florida, and Canada is even hit a couple of times.Not sure how a person acquires an actual audiobook for her own shelves (as opposed to borrowing a library book through OverDrive as I have done here) but I may have to find out.Yup, I'm finished -- and giving this one of my precious 5* ratings.p.s. When I needed some laughs and this was available, I listened again : )...more

Okay, so the rundown is as follows: This is a good book. Good, but not great. It's hilarious, twisted, and a lot of fun to read. It moves quick, the dialogue is fast, and the descriptions are lavish. If you have a weekend free and want to try some Dorsey, this is a pretty good one to start with.

But those returning to the world of Serge Storms will find little here they didn't find elsewhere. Serge is still Serge, Mahoney is portrayed as little more than a joke at this point, and if you've r Okay, so the rundown is as follows: This is a good book. Good, but not great. It's hilarious, twisted, and a lot of fun to read. It moves quick, the dialogue is fast, and the descriptions are lavish. If you have a weekend free and want to try some Dorsey, this is a pretty good one to start with.

But those returning to the world of Serge Storms will find little here they didn't find elsewhere. Serge is still Serge, Mahoney is portrayed as little more than a joke at this point, and if you've read Dorsey's books, you already know the formula by this point.

In conclusion, it's a fun read, but I wouldn't rush out to buy. Wait for summer, and get this from the library. It's an enjoyable book, and if you haven't read Dorsey, starting here isn't a bad idea. But it's not an essential edition, just a good one.

"Where you driving to?"

"Alfonso's Scrap Metal, Recycling, and Lounge."

"Lounge?"

"It's on the edge of a weird municipal zoning thing, and Alfonso took advantage of it."

- Serge and Coleman

I love Tim Dorsey, but it's always been weird trying to review him. At this point his book series, now a sixteen-book odyssey through Florida history and landmarks starring two antiheroic protagonists who kill a variety of wrongdoers in creative and messy ways, has reached the point where there are a lot of in-jokes and callbacks to previous books. And while the books do stand well enough on their own, I just couldn't get a purchase on or justify reviewing the books without getting too deep into them.

So why am I reviewing them now?

Because it's a series I feel like people overlook in the Florida crime canon. Because I feel like it's something worth delving into. And, most importantly, because while this is the sixteenth Serge A. Storms book, this is one of the more accessible volumes in the series, and if you're going to start reading the ridiculous and cartoonish adventures of Serge A. Storms, this is one of the best books to get in on to see if you like it. Most of the other books such as Florida Roadkill, the first in the series, don't have the same tone and aren't nearly as light as Tiger Shrimp Tango. But, while it's accessible, is it worth reading? Well...

Tiger Shrimp Tango is the story of Serge A. Storms. Serge is an antihero and vigilante who bounces from job to job and obsession to obsession with no real method of slowing down. There's a backstory to him, but it's fifteen books long and all you really need to know is that he's nuts and has a habit of offing the scum of the earth. He is assisted in his quest to act out every single fantasy in his kind of twisted brain by his erstwhile companion, Coleman. Coleman, so named after the cooler where his psychotic father kept him for his childhood, exists in a constant haze of drugs and alcohol. Despite this, he is a genius in physics and engineering, and his exploits include competently helping Serge with his various projects and once building a bong out of a particle accelerator. Together, the two of them are working as "private detectives" to take down scam artists in their home state of Florida, usually by putting the offending scammers into Rube Goldberg devices made from materials in the local Home Depot and fleeing the scene with all speed. They are aided in their current enterprise by the mentally-ill private eye Mahoney, who thinks he's in a film noir and talks in third-person monologue and jazz slang so dense it might as well be fabricated (it totally is). The three of them happen upon a ring of scammers pulling a combination of scams and smash-and-grab burglaries throughout Florida, and take it upon themselves to exact retribution for their victims.

Got all that? Good, because here's where it starts getting weird and crazy.

In the midst of all of this, a scam goes wrong and a young woman named Brook Campanella's father winds up dead of a heart attack. A group of former marks for a con artist band together and decide to take a trip down to scare him straight. Our "heroes" start picking off the scammers in messy and increasingly bizarre ways, ways involving things like magnets, lobsters, and the most grisly demonstration of Diet Coke and Mentos ever enacted on the page. And someone from Serge's past, someone who killed a woman very dear to him, gets orders to take a trip back to Miami to tie up a loose end named Serge A. Storms. Things start going bad very quickly, and before everyone knows it, they're up to their necks in death and deals gone wrong. And at the eye of the storm sit our oblivious "heroes" and the woman they're trying to protect, Brook Campanella. People will explode. Nets will tighten. And people may not get out alive. But hey, that's Florida for you.

Okay, first and foremost, I'd like to highlight the book's sense of timing. The book goes very quickly, but scenes tend to progress with a nice build. This isn't a breakneck pace where everything slams into each other before reaching a climax, each scene is given the attention it deserves, and never completely telegraphs its intentions. Dorsey understands that the best thing he could have going for him is surprise, and so he hides the punchline well until the end of the joke, when it'll have the maximum impact. He knows you want to know what the hell is going on, and by understanding this, he knows where to hide it for the maximum ridiculous potential. Dorsey also makes use of an anachronic order with Tiger Shrimp Tango, setting up absurd scenes with no context, and then showing the context later, essentially building new gags by having old ones reoccur. A lot of comic writers believe it's simply a matter of writing the funny setpieces and dialogue into their books, but the best comic authors, the ones people keep coming back to again and again, always work best with timing. And Dorsey has his down, through a combination of his craft and having done this sixteen times.

Second, Dorsey has to be praised for his work on the setting. The book functions as a kind of insane travelogue through Florida, touching on many real issues going on in the state and in the world at large. It's easy to tell right off the bat that Dorsey loves his home state, and that love is only reinforced by the lavish descriptions of places like Legoland Florida, the Tupperware Museum, and the cottage where The Yearling was written. One of the things I like about Tim Dorsey and his books is that he also pays attention to how each scene is lit, something that few writers do and even fewer actually get right the few times they do it (I count Ray Bradbury and maybe...one other). Dorsey imbues his locations with such life and purpose that the dichotomy in his books almost reminds me of the show The Bridge-- you come for the grisly criminal acts, but you stay for the scenery porn and the interesting characters caught up in situations beyond their control. In Dorsey's Florida, you have a gorgeous landscape filled with neon lights, beautiful vistas, and more despicable criminals than anyone could possibly police, and it almost makes one want to live there for the two seconds it would take before one was inevitably killed in some gruesome and cartoonish fashion by the antiheroes of the setting.

And finally, Dorsey does well with the characters. Each person is distinct, and even the ones who aren't as filled-out at least get a backstory before they're either killed off or scammed. He gives his villains a lot of color, and even some traits that could make them more sympathetic. They're usually just losers who either don't understand how deep in they've just got, or they're way over their heads and trying desperately to get out before all the exits seal off and they get cornered by a coffee-guzzling madman and his stoner accomplice, as well as all the other desperate losers in the setting. Even when it's a foregone conclusion that yes, these people will die, there's still the hope that at least some of them will make it out alive. And that's what makes the book interesting to read.

But there's a downside, too. Anyone who's read one of Dorsey's books before will know what is coming, and this being the most recent in a series that has grown just a little formulaic, there are not many surprises to be had. Also, some of the injokes could have been cut, having been resolved in previous adventures. Also, Serge's escapades feel less organic with each passing book, and more tinged with bitterness and wish-fulfillment.

But those looking for a quick, fun, lean read will find exactly that, and for first-time or returning readers, there's a lot to like. Take this one out of the library, get it used, pass it around with your friends, definitely read this, but don't buy it.

Honestly, I'd meant to try out Tim Dorsey for ages, so I was thrilled when the Goodreads First Readers program awarded me a copy of his latest book, and thought it would be the perfect chance to try him out. Unfortunately, I'm now just thrilled that I didn't spend money on this one...

In the beginning, I felt like I was getting whiplash every time I picked up this book...later on in the reading, I'm afraid I just felt a bit bored. The book was packed with interesting scenes and interesting characHonestly, I'd meant to try out Tim Dorsey for ages, so I was thrilled when the Goodreads First Readers program awarded me a copy of his latest book, and thought it would be the perfect chance to try him out. Unfortunately, I'm now just thrilled that I didn't spend money on this one...

In the beginning, I felt like I was getting whiplash every time I picked up this book...later on in the reading, I'm afraid I just felt a bit bored. The book was packed with interesting scenes and interesting characters, but there was just too little time spent in any one place. By the time I got interested, Dorsey was moving on to something else, and the only characters who held any sort of focus were just a bit too crazy and immoral to be likable. Honestly, at any point in the book, any of the characters could have been killed, or Dorsey could have started over entirely, and I wouldn't have been either saddened or surprised.

Perhaps the nature of this book made it a more fragmented read than others, so I'll look at some reviews of other Dorsey works before I write him off entirely, but I really didn't enjoy this work. The writing was fine, and a few of the jokes and situations made me smile, but on the whole, I found the book more silly and overwritten than enjoyable, in any way at all.

I wouldn't recommend this one, and honestly, I doubt I'll be trying any of Dorsey's other worse any time soon....more

Serge is a little less whacky, a lot of confused and dealing in a part of Florida history that is very esoteric in the latest entry in Tim Dorsey's ongoing saga. This novel has Serge working with Mahoney trying to track down some of Florida's finest con artists. Lunacy ensues, people die in bizarre manner - though most are not the "over the top" murders that Dorsey fans may be expecting - and new friendships are made. Serge seems a little older, wiser, and not quite as off the rails as usual; CoSerge is a little less whacky, a lot of confused and dealing in a part of Florida history that is very esoteric in the latest entry in Tim Dorsey's ongoing saga. This novel has Serge working with Mahoney trying to track down some of Florida's finest con artists. Lunacy ensues, people die in bizarre manner - though most are not the "over the top" murders that Dorsey fans may be expecting - and new friendships are made. Serge seems a little older, wiser, and not quite as off the rails as usual; Coleman continues his attempts to be the Keith Richards of the duo and don't expect to find City or Country as they're AWOL once again. ...more

I won this copy in a Goodreads give away. It was a regular hardback edition, not an ARC.

First of all, I had never read this author before. I entered the giveaway for a couple of reasons, but the main one was the comparisons to Carl Hiaasen. I have read some Hiaasen books and enjoyed them. Also, Dorsey has a big following and I really expected to like this book.

I did not enjoy this book at all. I was put off at the get-go by a crude scene with cops standing around laughing at a crime scene, by aI won this copy in a Goodreads give away. It was a regular hardback edition, not an ARC.

First of all, I had never read this author before. I entered the giveaway for a couple of reasons, but the main one was the comparisons to Carl Hiaasen. I have read some Hiaasen books and enjoyed them. Also, Dorsey has a big following and I really expected to like this book.

I did not enjoy this book at all. I was put off at the get-go by a crude scene with cops standing around laughing at a crime scene, by a too long description and dialog concerning small portions of restaurant food, and by supposedly clever dialog in an automobile. The dialogues in the first couple of chapters seemed formulaic and out-of-date.

I gave up.

I don't like writing a review of a book I didn't finish, but I felt a need to explain the low rating.

Serge Storm is forever on some sort of crusade, this time, as employed by private detective Mahoney and assisted by his drugged-up alcoholic sidekick Coleman, he roams Florida removing perpetrators of various types of fraud against the Sunshine State’s inhabitants. Apparently, in this once again far-out but amusing novel, Serge (and Mahoney) discover a gang with several participants specializing in diverse types of frauds.

The scams range from the “Dating Bandit,” who occupies the mark while confSerge Storm is forever on some sort of crusade, this time, as employed by private detective Mahoney and assisted by his drugged-up alcoholic sidekick Coleman, he roams Florida removing perpetrators of various types of fraud against the Sunshine State’s inhabitants. Apparently, in this once again far-out but amusing novel, Serge (and Mahoney) discover a gang with several participants specializing in diverse types of frauds.

The scams range from the “Dating Bandit,” who occupies the mark while confederates clean out his or her home of its contents, to readers of obituaries who remove valuables and other items from the insides of the dwellings of the grieving relatives attending the funeral. Of course, as varied as the scams are, so are the techniques Serge uses to punish the culprits.

Serge is still recoiling from the assassination of his beloved Felicia, and this past misfortune enters into the conclusion of this adventure, as we learn that the same assassin is aiming for Serge this time.

As always from this author a fun story, “Tiger Shrimp Tango” is recommended.

Even though Tim Dorsey's books are formulaic, to a point, this one was a bit different. It's amazing how I can sympathize with a serial killer, although he's nice and only harms people who really deserve it.

It's another adventure with Serge and Coleman as they drive their way through Florida. This story has them helping to end the scourge of scan artists throughout the state. They pray on both tourists and locals, which means they don't discriminate. They are equal opportunity scumbags.

The twistEven though Tim Dorsey's books are formulaic, to a point, this one was a bit different. It's amazing how I can sympathize with a serial killer, although he's nice and only harms people who really deserve it.

It's another adventure with Serge and Coleman as they drive their way through Florida. This story has them helping to end the scourge of scan artists throughout the state. They pray on both tourists and locals, which means they don't discriminate. They are equal opportunity scumbags.

The twist in the story is that Serge is actually working for his old nemesis Mahoney. Mahoney is a private investigator whose brain is somewhere in the 1940s. He sees himself as a latter day film noir detective, ala Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe. He speaks in that old style jargon made famous by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He even narrates out loud.

Mahoney has some clients who are victims of robbery scams and he has Serge and Coleman do a bit of sleuthing and eliminating. The "gang" of scammers are very clever and use the latest technology as rip off their intended victims. One hilarious bit involves calling people in hotel rooms pretending to be the front desk with an emergency. They tell customers there is a gas leak on their floor. The customers need to spray fire extinguisher foam on themselves and exit through the stairways, no elevators. Once out of their rooms, the scammers rob their rooms. But its all orchestrated through public video cameras and other high tech gadgets.

Fortunately for the victims, Serge and Coleman are on the scene. There are a few crazy but funny bits where Mentos and ice cubes are involved. Sometimes the ice cubes are the size of a 55 gallon drum and other times they fit into a drinking glass. The clever and frequently crazed ways that Serge dispatches his victims makes me laugh and cringe. He is fair though, as he always gives them a way out.

The end of the story is a variation on the heroes driving into the sunset, but there was never a more unlikely group of heroes in any story. ...more

I just love all of the Serge A. Storms novels and this was no exception. Serge and Coleman are up to their usual hijinks and mayhem. I can not imagine at book 17 that most need a serious in depth review to be encouraged to choose to read this or not.

However if by some chance you are stumbling across this book first here is a brief synopsis of the series. Serge is a vigilante who goes after people he considers "jerks". Once he tracks them down he concocts vicious brutal ways to rid the world of tI just love all of the Serge A. Storms novels and this was no exception. Serge and Coleman are up to their usual hijinks and mayhem. I can not imagine at book 17 that most need a serious in depth review to be encouraged to choose to read this or not.

However if by some chance you are stumbling across this book first here is a brief synopsis of the series. Serge is a vigilante who goes after people he considers "jerks". Once he tracks them down he concocts vicious brutal ways to rid the world of these jerks. These methods are often Rube Goldberg like contraptions sometimes with a less than obvious method of escape (but just as often there is no method of escape). The people who are generally seen as jerks are people who scam large groups of people in his beloved state of Florida or people who scam or hurt one of Serge's many acquaintances.

This is all done while Serge tells us the history of Florida as he and his drug addled buddy Coleman criss-cross the state on various adventures.

I think you have to have a pretty dark sense of humor to fully enjoy these books but if you can take vicious vigilantism revolving around what is essentially a travel novel about Florida and Florida history I think you will find a lot to enjoy this series.

All of the books in this series are pretty quick reads . . . I think I take an average of three to four nights to read each of them. So if you are looking for a dark but funny quick read these books answer....more

If you're not already aboard the Tim Dorsey train I suspect you'll find this incomprehensible, but if you've read the others in the series you'll be delighted that the return of Serge and Coleman, the daftest double act in hyperactive crime fiction, also includes occasional supports Johnny Vegas and Detective Mahoney. I laughed like a drain.

At least a couple of times a year I really need a shot of Tim Dorsey. Between he and Carl Hiaasen, South Florida is made the laugh capital of the country. If anything, Tiger Shrimp Tango exceeds his usual high standard for zaniness. The scary part is, I found myself agreeing with Serge several times in this one. A good way to spend an evening.

Still great but this one is written based on left overs from previous ideas. Still great and imaginative ways of disposing of scumbags but no real story behind it this time.It looks like Serge is going to get a female side kick for the next book so I am impatiently waiting for the next episode!

Reading a Tim Dorsey book is like having an out-of-body experience. It may not be the typical mystery or crime novel that I prefer but once into the book it is a barrel of laughs and a high speed adventure. In " Tiger Shrimp Tango" we again find ourselves in the wilds of Florida......actually all over the state. It seems that Florida leads the nation in the wildest scams imaginable ! And our spaced out 'detectives' are out to make it right with every individual victimized by one of these 'sting Reading a Tim Dorsey book is like having an out-of-body experience. It may not be the typical mystery or crime novel that I prefer but once into the book it is a barrel of laughs and a high speed adventure. In " Tiger Shrimp Tango" we again find ourselves in the wilds of Florida......actually all over the state. It seems that Florida leads the nation in the wildest scams imaginable ! And our spaced out 'detectives' are out to make it right with every individual victimized by one of these 'stings'. Serge Storms and his sidekick, Coleman are out to take down a well organized operation. I guess it doesn't matter that Serge is a serial killer or that Coleman is usually high on drugs. At least they are only going after the real bad guys! Using information from a data management firm known as ' Big Dipper Data Management' duh ! Add to the mix another private detective named Mahoney....a friend of Serge.....our daring duo attempts to take out one scam artist at a time. It becomes a maddening adventure which won't let you stop to take a breath. Fans of Tim Dorsey will love " Tiger Shrimp Tango " and ,yes, I have become a fan!...more

Serge Storms is at it again, taking a bite out of crime with his usual sense of style! This time he is after a ring of scam artists who have been setting up innocent people and robbing them blind. With sidekick Coleman along for the ride, and assistance from a private eye buddy, Serge effectively rids his beloved Sunshine State of more of its criminal element, and rescues an innocent woman along the way.

Dorsey's novels always provide a good escape from the mundane, and this one does not disappoiSerge Storms is at it again, taking a bite out of crime with his usual sense of style! This time he is after a ring of scam artists who have been setting up innocent people and robbing them blind. With sidekick Coleman along for the ride, and assistance from a private eye buddy, Serge effectively rids his beloved Sunshine State of more of its criminal element, and rescues an innocent woman along the way.

Dorsey's novels always provide a good escape from the mundane, and this one does not disappoint. It's fun seeing bad guys get comeuppance, and the good guys ride off victorious in the sunset. In this fantasy, the end seems to justify the means, however unorthodox.

Fans of Dorsey who have been following Serge along the way are going to love this latest romp, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves an adventure. Although it is the latest installment in a series, it can also stand alone, as there is just enough back story to keep a new reader from feeling lost.

I did find it a bit hard to follow in places, but there is also just enough to keep my curiosity engaged, so I kept reading and eventually got past the parts I found reading tedious. Also there is enough violence involved to keep the book from having universal appeal. There are going to be readers who find they do not care for it.

Just finished this book, the last one out so far in the seventeen book string. Similar to the past Serge Storms adventures, this is another whimsical bullet train ride with our protagonistic antagonist. Always entertaining, and deliberately far-fetched, the read value is high. The author at once displays a scientific knowledge base and rousing sense of humor. Interesting factoids along the way as well (bat tower, musicians home grown in Florida, Indian tribes, etc.) and of course what can you saJust finished this book, the last one out so far in the seventeen book string. Similar to the past Serge Storms adventures, this is another whimsical bullet train ride with our protagonistic antagonist. Always entertaining, and deliberately far-fetched, the read value is high. The author at once displays a scientific knowledge base and rousing sense of humor. Interesting factoids along the way as well (bat tower, musicians home grown in Florida, Indian tribes, etc.) and of course what can you say about Coleman, the trusty sidekick and ever-high alter ego and friend. If you read one you gotta read them all. Otherwise, Mahoney may come over and jam the roscoe in your button....more

Any Serge Storms story is a good one, and makes for perfect beach reading. The series has flagged a little in the past couple of years, but this one suggests an upturn. Some great insights on why neither the Republicans nor the Democrats would consider Jesus electable, the hypocrisy of Fox News (easy pickings, admittedly) and the usual Florida madness (in which a serial killer is the sanest one around). And any book that figures out a plausible way to place a character in a chicken costume at aAny Serge Storms story is a good one, and makes for perfect beach reading. The series has flagged a little in the past couple of years, but this one suggests an upturn. Some great insights on why neither the Republicans nor the Democrats would consider Jesus electable, the hypocrisy of Fox News (easy pickings, admittedly) and the usual Florida madness (in which a serial killer is the sanest one around). And any book that figures out a plausible way to place a character in a chicken costume at a murder scene and then have someone shout "You're gonna fry for this!" deserves special applause....more

For anyone who may not yet have experienced the writing of Tim Dorsey, Tiger Shrimp Tango is an experience you will likely treasure if you have a sense of humor and a pulse. This new Dorsey offering is his classic mashup of murder, mayhem, and masterfully twisted characters. The book's plot draws heavily upon the very special class of scammers who always seem to land in Florida, and who have now adopted competitive intelligence and data mining into their nefarious scheming behavior.

For tried an

For anyone who may not yet have experienced the writing of Tim Dorsey, Tiger Shrimp Tango is an experience you will likely treasure if you have a sense of humor and a pulse. This new Dorsey offering is his classic mashup of murder, mayhem, and masterfully twisted characters. The book's plot draws heavily upon the very special class of scammers who always seem to land in Florida, and who have now adopted competitive intelligence and data mining into their nefarious scheming behavior.

For tried and true fans, most will enjoy the merry, yet often whiplash-generating ride of Serge and Coleman in Tiger Shrimp Tango. Along the way , we get to encounter our duo at the Republican Convention, Tupperware World, and all manner of offbeat and oddball venues. Serge is a creative demon ensnaring wrong doers at the behest of Mahoney, a gnarly noir detective who still channels Raymond Chandler and Phillip Marlowe. Sadly for his employer, he is less dedicated to and mindful of the need to collect any funds in question.

How much did I like this book? Any book that forces me to set it down because I cannot stop laughing is aces with me. And the overlay of drug-addled behavior of Coleman (e.g., putting his hamster in a bong while he is smoking it) was outstanding. Dorsey has created his own special concoction of noir crime, laugh-out loud funny humor, and nonstop action here.

Finally, props to Serge and Shelly for recognizing that Pet Sounds is the Beach Boys at their best.

I was lucky enough to receive this book through "First-Reads". I very much appreciate it. If you haven't tried "First-Reads," consider giving it a go. Your reading life will be better for it.

You know what you are going to get from Dorsey, and he never fails to deliver. This time Serge tackles (and by tackles, I mean murders with Rube Goldberg machines) con artists and scammers in south Florida. When South Philly Sal (from Miami) assembles a large team of otherwise small time criminals, their shenanigans draw the attention, and ire, of Serge. When someone can use the inner ear of a Lobster as a triggering mechanism, you don't want to mess with that someone.

One added bonus to Tiger ShYou know what you are going to get from Dorsey, and he never fails to deliver. This time Serge tackles (and by tackles, I mean murders with Rube Goldberg machines) con artists and scammers in south Florida. When South Philly Sal (from Miami) assembles a large team of otherwise small time criminals, their shenanigans draw the attention, and ire, of Serge. When someone can use the inner ear of a Lobster as a triggering mechanism, you don't want to mess with that someone.

One added bonus to Tiger Shrimp Tango, is that Serge gets some revenge on the guy who murdered the woman he loved....more

Tim Dorsey is almost back! Gone for the most part is his foray I to negative Republican politics. This story is like most of the others not the most complicated plot, but what is back in full force are creative ways to kill off scum bags and this book has loads of them. It was all great fun. The only problem is the Serge Colman pairings is getting tired. I hope Tim Dorsey will try his hand at another book without Serge and Colman or make them a small part of the story. I would hate for this seriTim Dorsey is almost back! Gone for the most part is his foray I to negative Republican politics. This story is like most of the others not the most complicated plot, but what is back in full force are creative ways to kill off scum bags and this book has loads of them. It was all great fun. The only problem is the Serge Colman pairings is getting tired. I hope Tim Dorsey will try his hand at another book without Serge and Colman or make them a small part of the story. I would hate for this series to "jump the shark" which is is dangerously close to doing....more

- My Description -Paradise. That one word makes one think of all kinds of words: palm trees, sand, water, waves, fruity drinks, etc, etc but not scams. No way. The last think you want to think about or have happen to you in paradise are scams or being a victim.

That's exactly what is happening in the state of Florida or at least in this book.

In Tiger Shrimp Tango, Serge Storms is a vigilante. He just really doesn't like bad people, like scam artists.

Who can blame him, right?

Serge's friend is C- My Description -Paradise. That one word makes one think of all kinds of words: palm trees, sand, water, waves, fruity drinks, etc, etc but not scams. No way. The last think you want to think about or have happen to you in paradise are scams or being a victim.

That's exactly what is happening in the state of Florida or at least in this book.

In Tiger Shrimp Tango, Serge Storms is a vigilante. He just really doesn't like bad people, like scam artists.

Who can blame him, right?

Serge's friend is Coleman, JUST Coleman....like Elvis is just Elvis or Madonna is just Madonna. Coleman is a man of many uses. He's Serge's sidekick/partner-in-goodness and all around clown assisting Serge in helping right the wrongs.

Fighting the good fight.

You see, what Serge does to these criminals isn't really criminal at all.

He does what the police can not.

He tortures them into eventual death.

Isn't that GREAT? Redemption!

- My Review -The deaths are so creative and extremely unpredictable. You never know what Serge is thinking or how he's going to pull it off.

Serge is awesome. Coleman is humorous.

Trust me, You want Serge and Coleman on YOUR side.

This was a quite enjoyable read AFTER the first 100 pages. I had actually put it aside to read something else. I was losing interest.

Then I picked it up again, just to read-it/get-it-over-with.

What I found out was I was actually enjoying it.

I love vigilante type movies. Now I can say I really liked this vigilante type book.

After finishing, I felt like I said goodbye to a good friend.I hate when a good book ends.

I'm interested in reading more about Serge Storms and JUST Coleman. =)...more

Scam artists. We've all heard the horror stories: someone's life savings taken, identity stolen, their life in ruins. Well Serge will have none of that. Florida may be turning to the scam capital of America but it won't stop him from teaching these miscreants a little empathy.

Scam artists. We've all heard the horror stories: someone's life savings taken, identity stolen, their life in ruins. Well Serge will have none of that. Florida may be turning to the scam capital of America but it won't stop him from teaching these miscreants a little empathy.

Tiger Shrimp Tango, the latest in Tim Dorsey's series about socially-conscious killer and history buff Serge A. Storms, brings Dorsey's familiar style of oddball-ish satire laced with unsavory sycophants. As Serge works to take down a major con he digs deeper into an incident from two books prior where a previous love had been murdered. All the while he spares no opportunity (or expense) in dispensing the appropriate amount of empathy (read as: psychotic, vigilante justice) where he sees necessary.

As with the previous book in the series, Tiger Shrimp Tango is a little shorter than I would've preferred and where this is the sixth Serge book that I've read I'm finding some elements of predictability which I'm hoping won't become more apparent in the future....more

Serge and Coleman are still as crazy as ever, but Dorsey seems to (somehow) be getting more relevant in his material. This one is a rant against all the scammers and fraudsters out there, with a touch of a love story involved as well. Unusual territory for these characters and the author, too. But it all works, in fact, it works better than most of the Serge stories. An enjoyable ride, and as always, Serge's unique trivia knowledge and scientific abilities in executing bad guys is second to noneSerge and Coleman are still as crazy as ever, but Dorsey seems to (somehow) be getting more relevant in his material. This one is a rant against all the scammers and fraudsters out there, with a touch of a love story involved as well. Unusual territory for these characters and the author, too. But it all works, in fact, it works better than most of the Serge stories. An enjoyable ride, and as always, Serge's unique trivia knowledge and scientific abilities in executing bad guys is second to none!...more

(nb: I received an Advance Review Copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss)

No person—alive or fictional—loves Florida more than Serge Storms. His latest car is a 1978 Pontiac Trans-Am, with the eagle wings framing the hood scoop converted into Florida shapes.

As much as Serge loves Florida, though, he hates those who prey on the state’s innocent, and Serge is the last person you want as your enemy. Despite his presence, there are plenty of evil-doers out there, taking advantage of peo(nb: I received an Advance Review Copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss)

No person—alive or fictional—loves Florida more than Serge Storms. His latest car is a 1978 Pontiac Trans-Am, with the eagle wings framing the hood scoop converted into Florida shapes.

As much as Serge loves Florida, though, he hates those who prey on the state’s innocent, and Serge is the last person you want as your enemy. Despite his presence, there are plenty of evil-doers out there, taking advantage of people’s naiveté. One brazen robbery in “Tiger Shrimp Tango” ends up with an entire floor’s worth of hotel guests naked in the parking lot, sprayed down with fire extinguisher foam. (That crime, to be honest, was just brilliant, as was Serge’s revenge)

Once more, Serge is teamed with his always-partying sidekick, Coleman. Coleman is his own kind of genius—who else makes a bong out of one of those little aquarium treasure chests—but he’s the perfect assistant for Serge, especially as a patient target of Serge’s manic Florida screeds.

This time around, the duo face an organized group of various con-men, con-women, thieves, burglars, grifters, etc, a sort of criminal Olympics team (forgive me, but I just imagined an insurance scam artist standing atop the platform, with a gold medal around his neck and his hand over his cold heart, beaming proudly as Judas Priest’s “Breakin’ the Law” blasts through the arena).

I digress.

These folks are at the top of their respective dark arts, but there’s more to it than that. They take a perverse, competitive glee in their performance, and they celebrate hard when the team works together to pull-off a big heist.

One of my favorite things about author Tim Dorsey’s Serge Storms novels is that rarely does Serge sit down and plot how he will dispatch somebody. He’s too busy with his peripatetic ramblings to lay pen to paper. He always manages to find the bad folks, and dispense upon them that unique Serge Storms brand of justice. The man’s a lunatic/genius, with an admirable creative bent. In an earlier novel, he eliminated a sadistic Little League coach by hooking a Water Wiggle to a pressure washer. Genius. Pure, twisted, fresh-squeezed genius. Best of all, no matter how many novels Dorsey writes, Serge never repeats himself. To him, it would seem ineloquent.

The stakes are high in “Tiger Shrimp Tango,” so Serge enlists the aid of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Inspector Mahoney, who has become a private investigator. One reason he was drummed out of the FDLE is that he can’t stop talking in 1940’s pulp detective novel slang. As time goes by, Mahoney gets progressively less intelligible, and more entertaining. Seriously, things like answering the phone, “Mahoney. Flap gums” had me cracking up.

There is always a lot of cracking-up with one of Dorsey’s novels, and “Tiger Shrimp Tango” certainly continues that streak. The key, of course, is Serge himself. His Floridian pride and exuberant vigilantism make him a perfect lead. He’s a genius, but a completely screwy one. Coleman drinks and smokes weed throughout the whole book—the whole series, really—but he complements Serge wonderfully. Mahoney adds another layer of comic relief.

Before becoming a successful novelist, Tim Dorsey was a writer for the Tampa Tribune. As befits his newspaper background, many of the scams he captures in “Tiger Shrimp Tango” are real. As a native Floridian, I’ve always been proud that we have such groundbreaking scumbags. (That, and the Florida State Fair always debuting the fair circuit’s latest fried food. I lost track after fried Pepsi—seriously, there was fried Pepsi).

Joking aside, people—most of them elderly and on fixed incomes—fall for these scams. Part of the appeal Serge’s adventures hold for me is that he gets symbolic justice for those poor souls I read about in the paper.

Almost as rewarding is when Dorsey mocks certain fashionable trends. “Ridiculous” isn’t a strong-enough adjective to describe some of what passes for hip in South Beach.

Unlike several novels in the series, this one doesn’t spotlight one particular victim (save for a pretty daughter of one). This gives the plot a more scattershot feel than those where Serge focuses on one person or family, but it’s not a fatal flaw. If you are a fan of the series, 2014 will dawn with a new Serge Storms novel; you’ll read it, and you’ll laugh.

“Tiger Shrimp Tango” sticks with Tim Dorsey’s perfect recipe: take lunatic Floridaphile/serial killer Serge, blend in perma-buzzed Coleman, add a dash of Mahoney for additional flavor; pour the mixture over some deserving villains, bake in the Florida sun for 300 pages or so, and you have another smart, face-achingly funny read.

Serge and his ever present sidekick Coleman are at it again, this time taking it to the extreme to track down and eliminate the vicious scam artists that plague the state of Florida. Serge has nightmares about the death of his former girlfriend that he witnessed two years ago. Will he ever find out the truth about her death and who did it? Mahoney is hot on the job as well and needs Serge to tie up some loose end for him. Who but Serge could use Mentos and lobsters to teach scammers a lesson?

This isn't my typical reading material, and I'm not sure I'll read the other books in this series. That being said, I actually did enjoy Tiger Shrimp Tango for the crazy Florida crime romp that it is.

Since I haven't read the previous Serge Storms books, I'm not sure if this is an element of all of them, but the timeline in Tiger Shrimp Tango jumps backward and forward, which can be confusing at times. One character seemed to have two first meetings with Mahoney, the private eye; I'm still not suThis isn't my typical reading material, and I'm not sure I'll read the other books in this series. That being said, I actually did enjoy Tiger Shrimp Tango for the crazy Florida crime romp that it is.

Since I haven't read the previous Serge Storms books, I'm not sure if this is an element of all of them, but the timeline in Tiger Shrimp Tango jumps backward and forward, which can be confusing at times. One character seemed to have two first meetings with Mahoney, the private eye; I'm still not sure if that actually was a continuity error or if I simply misread/misunderstood. Because of the multiple plot lines, though, some fast-forwarding and rewinding probably was necessary to cover everything that was happening. Overall, Dorsey did a good job at tying up the plot, which is impressive since it's a rather multi-faceted plot.

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program....more

This latest entry is fairly typical of the madcap adventures of the books in this series. There's more than the usual sense of randomness here, however, not so much in how Serge spends his time and the creative ways he kills the bad guys but with the underlying (and presumably unifying) plot that should be the foundation for all that goes on. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...

Tim Dorsey was born in Indiana, moved to Florida at the age of 1, and grew up in a small town about an hour north of Miami called Riviera Beach. He graduated from Auburn University in 1983. While at Auburn, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Plainsman.

From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joinedTim Dorsey was born in Indiana, moved to Florida at the age of 1, and grew up in a small town about an hour north of Miami called Riviera Beach. He graduated from Auburn University in 1983. While at Auburn, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Plainsman.

From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.

“...And another item from the growing file of people who voluntarily wear dunce caps... You'll be talking cordially to someone and make an offhand reference, 'I recently read where--' and they'll cut you off and say, 'Oh, I don't read'... This is a tragedy on so many different levels. First, because they don't read, they don't know enough to keep it to themselves. Next, and this is the most amazing part, they use a demeaning tone like I'm the stupid one for wasting time with books.”
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“It would have been the middle of nowhere if it had been closer to other places.”
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